New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-17
Il PERVERSION OF HISTORY.

Civil War Is that which records the plots OF
Confederate agents in Canada. A moro in
famous series OF crimes against civilization
than Jacob Thompson's conspiracics against
life and property in the North cannot lie cited
from the annals Of modern history. We are
at loss to understand why Judge Hines should
have thought il necessary to revive recocc-
tons Of these atrocious inuigucs by cOntrbul-
ing series Of articles TO The Southern
Biyo,ac' on "The Northwestern Conspir-
acy'' As an officer detailed by the COnfcd-
crate Secretary Of War to report to Mr.. Thomp-
son for duty in Canada he might have been
justified in relating his personal experiences
and Impressions, if he had lad anything new
to tell. But apparently he has no fresh ma
tcrial of his disposal, no revelations TO make.
Tie is simply thIeShing over old straw that is
exceedingly foul and musty. His second art
icle published this month contains letter from
Mr.. Thompson 10 Mr. Mason and Mr.. Slidcll,
which may not have been brought TO light
elsewhere but lis contents had been antici-
patcd years ago by budget Of Confederate
correspondence printed in THE TRIBUNE.
There arc no fresh facts there ap no new
hints insinuntions or charges Even the inn
pcation. which We believe to be false. that
Judge Black in his conference with Mr. Thomp-
son represented Secretary Stanton, had teen
conveyed in a letter from Mr.. G. e. Clay TO
Mr.. Benjamin, published in TIE TRIBUNE
March II. 1881.
If Judge Hines felt it 10 be a public duty
to revert to this subject whom he had nothing
new 10 communicate. his Judgment vas scri-
ousIy at fault Ordinary prudence. however,
should have impcllcd him To examine what had
already been published and TO avoid cn'a~g-
ling himself in mesh OF contradictions. With
amazing fa,uity be introduced his second art
iclc with general comments on the mission OF
the Confederate agents. which are not merely
misleading, but gross pcrvcrsions Of the truth.
lie states that Mr. Thompson was instructed
by the Confederate Government to avoid all
tansgrcssions of the laws of war as Observed
by belscrents, aud to neither command
nor permit destruction 81 private property nor
n;ury or annoyance Ia non-conibatan,s. Mr..
Thompson" he continues, repeatedly de-
clarcd that such were the express injunciic,ls
he had received from his Government If
these instructions were violated by parties
claiming TO net under his directions. IL was
moro his misfortune than his fault. for no act
of the kind ras done NTH his sanction. and 1t
is unqucsuonaby true that he inraTably for
bIde it,
Unfortunately for Judge Hines The TRIBUNE
published on April 16. 1881. letter from Mr.
Thompson 10 Sir. BENJAMIN, Confederate Sec
retary Of State, in which full personal rcsp0n@-
hiKty for crimes against life and property and
for the most Infamous plots against Northern
cities was frankly aud cynicaly avowcd We
have space for only ono extract Having
nothing cIsc on hand Colonel Martin expressed
a wish TO organize corrs tn bum Ncw-fork
CITY. lie was aiIoued TO do so and most
daring attempt has been made 20 Gre that city,
but their reliance on the Greek fire has proved
q misfortune. II cannot be depended on as an
agent in such work. have no faith whatever
in it. and no attempt shall hereafter be made
under my general directions with any such
materials" II New-York was not dcvas,a cd
by Confederate incendaries IL was not Mr..
Thompson's fault but rather his "misior-
tune" since his authorized agents had d. pend
ed upon an untrustworthy explosive. Greek fire.
The assumption that the Confederate leaders
in Canada did not sanction plots against tho
lives anil property Of non-com atants at the
North is fatty cOntradicted By every rage Of
Mr.. 1hompson's letter to Mr. njamin We
marvel at Judge Illness temerty in attempt
ing at this late day to justify tho proceedings
OF the lrgadiers across tho border by gen
Civilizations that are so easily controversial.
IL is true that since a Democratic Administra-
ton camc into power the flag Of the Depart
mcnt Of the Interior has been lowered as a
mark Of respect for jacob Thompson. But
these bclatcd honors hare not altered the facts
of history. The Confederate leader avowcd
over his own signature in the most explicit
terms his responsibility for the destruction OF
many steamboats, on the Mississippi, for bastard
iy plots to burn down Ncw-Yo and Cincinnati
and for many other Infamous outragcs Unless
Judge Hines 10 prepared To demons ratio the
men,laoity and ir1csponsibilty Of Jacob Thomp-
son, he would better revise his judgments
on {" Tho Northwestern Conspiracy
MONEY AND BUSINESS.